Traditions Abound

TRADITIONS ABOUND at Thanksgiving. But in the 1999 Texas A&M versus Texas game, players paid homage to fellow students who died preparing for an honored Aggie tradition.

Every year before this annual game, Texas A&M students build a massive bonfire for a pep rally the night before the game. In the early morning hours eight days prior to the contest, the 55-foot stack of tiered logs collapsed. Hundreds of huge pieces of wood tumbled down, killing 12 volunteers.

A pall hung over the crowd of 86,128 gathered at A&M’s Kyle Field. Under his jersey, each Aggie player wore a T-shirt listing the victims’ names.

Texas led 16–6 at halftime, but the Aggies closed to 16–13 on fullback Ja’Mar Toombs’s 9-yard run. As the clock ticked down, A&M quarterback Randy McCown capped a 48-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Matt Bumgardner, giving the Aggies a 20–16 lead. Texas failed to record a first down on its next possession but forced an A&M punt and took over at its own 11-yard line with two minutes remaining.

Major Applewhite directed the Longhorns to the Aggie 45, but Jay Brooks sacked the Texas quarterback on first down, creating a fumble that was recovered by A&M linebacker Brian Gamble with 23 seconds left. After the play, Gamble dropped to his knees, clutched his helmet, then raised both hands and pointed to the sky with teary eyes.

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POINT That day and many following, the Texas A&M family needed compassion. Each walk past the bonfire ruins brought sadness. Yet the students were thankful they had known those who died. They mourned the loss of their friends, but they celebrated their memory.

Tragedies often occur in life. Many times we can’t explain why. We have to trust God and his will for the world. And we can know that God comforts those who lose loved ones. He cares for everybody in the world. His grace and strength help people through difficult times.

GOAL! Consider talking with a mature Christian about why bad things happen. Thank the Lord for his comfort when calamity comes.